LASER RADIATION PROTECTION

Abstract Although most health physicists and others in the field of radiation protection have confined their efforts primarily to the hazards from the so-called ionizing radiations (X-rays, gamma-rays, neutrons, high energy particles, etc.), an increasing number of workers in this field are being called upon to protect personnel from laser radiation. The phenomenal development of laser technology during the past three years has introduced new hazards for industry, for governmental agencies, particularly the military and space agencies, and for universities and medical schools. The necessity for such criteria will be examined. Since the eye is the most vulnerable organ of man to laser radiation, the effects of wavelength, pulse duration, intensity of irradiation (power density), energy density, and other factors on the eye will be given. Current data from several laboratories will be reviewed briefly. Finally, protective practices and equipment in current use in the United States will be discussed.